Suture instrument



\ Nov. 13,1923.

..\ M. DONELSON SUTURE INSTRUMENT Filed June 8, 1921 ffl/dll igetentedNov. i3, i923,

UNTED STATES MARTIN DONELSON, OF MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE.

SUTURE INSTRUMENT.

Application filed June,

To all/whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, Manrin DoNnLsoN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Memphis, in the lcounty of Shelby and VState of Tennessee,have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Sut-ure-nstrument; andl I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description ofV the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to an article designed for general application insuture work and intended more particularly for surgical operations.

ther objects and advantages will be apparent and suggest themselves asthe nature of the invention is understood.

While the drawings illustrate an embodiment of the inventionit is to beunderstood that in adapting the same to meet different conditions and lrequirements, various changes in the form, proportion and minor detailsof construction may be resorted to without departing'from the natureofthe invention.

Referring to the accompanying drawing forming a part of thespecification,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of an instrument embodying lthe invention,the needle being reversed and housed.

Figure 2 is an end view of the instrument adapted for service and havingparts broken away.

Figure 3 is a section on the line of Figure 2 looking to the right asindicated by the arrows, and

Figure et shows somey of the various stitches adapted to be formed bythe use of the instrument.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the followingdescription and designated in the several views of the drawing by likereference characters.

The instrument embodies a handle 1 which may be of any construction anddesign. An extension 2 at the forward end of the handle and in linetherewith constitutes a holder for the needle and is provided with anopening 3 in which the needle is received. A set screw Li threaded in.an opening formed in a side of the extension 2 is adapted to secure--the needle 5 in the requiredadjusted 'posi-p tion. The opening 3 is of adepth to provide a'housing for the needle 5 as indicated most clearly inFigure 1. When not required for 1921. Serial No. 476,061.

immediate service the needle 5is reversed and its pointed end. insertedin the opening 3 for protection. 'It should be stated that any type orform of lneedle may be einployed depending uponthe particular work athand.

A box or container 6 is provided at onev side of the handle 1 adjacentthe inner end of the extension 2 and is closed by means of a cover 7which is held in place by means of a retainer '8. The retainer 8consists of a ring or'band having an inner beveled flange 9 whichoverlaps the edge portion of the cover 7. The outer portion of the boxor container 6 kis reduced and externally screw threaded and receivesthe retainer 8 which is correspondingly threaded. A slot 10 is formed inthe forward side of the box or container 6 for the passage of the thread11. I The cover 7 is flexible and preferably ist coniined between theflange 9 and the outer end of the box or container 6. By reason of theflexibility of the cover 7 its middle portion may be pressed inwardly toadmit of the cover being used in the capacity of a brake. n

A spool or bobbin 12 is vdisposed within the bon or container 6 and thethread 11 is wound thereon. In the preferable construction the spool orbobbin 12 is of a size to fit snugly within the container 6 to obviatebinding and .prevent the thread from lodging between the head of thespool and the inner wall of the container. When the cover 7 is removedthe spool12 may be placed in position or removed from the container 6 asrequired. The slotl 10 provides a passage for the thread 11.

When the instrument is not required for immediate servicethe thread 11is completely wound upon the spool 12 so as not to project from thecontainer 6 and the needle 5 vis reversed with its pointed end housed inthe opening 3 of the extension 2. When the instrument is adapted forservice the needle 5 is secured in the opening 3 of the eri-.tension 2by means of the set screw et with its pointed end outward land thethread 11 has its end portion withdrawn or unwound from the spool 12 andpassed through the slot 10 and the eye of the needle 5 as indicated inFigure 2. 1When the instrument is in operationV unwinding of the threadfrom the spool is prevented or controlled by applying pressure to thecentral portion of the cover 7 which is caused tg oler greater or lessresistance to the rotation of the spool l2 according to the degree ofpressure exerted thereon las will be readily understood. "For surgicaloperations the parts are sterilized but for ordinary use sterilizationis not necessary. The construetion such as toperinitoi theeontainer Gand extension 2 forming a. part of the handle Lisa-id parts being eastor kformed v.in any manner. Allzroept when intendedlor `surgical use thecover y7 isinot nee-essarywthe ball of the thumb noting direetly on thereel as aA brake. F or surgical purposes the funem tion of .the cover isto render the container water tight,- exeep't 1the small hole lett forthelexit of thread. and :to prevent contamina.- tion` of thread.

The extension is offset to elevate the needle end prevent its Contactwith the surface upon Which-the instrument may be ,temporarilyplncedwhen both hands of the surgeon are otherwise occupied.

yFor surgical operations the stitches may be placedwithout being);touched. by the hand, a. Vpair ofusuel dressing forceps manipnl'zttingthethread i-n eonjunction with the needle. The construction is such thatthe needlefthreed and 'foreceps ina-jr be ster-ized. The spoolfofthreadk is completely enclosed and protected. Afdise 130i metal or othermaterial 'may be interposed between the cover 7 and the-spool l2 toinsureaI uniform braking action'.

The instrument admits of a. variety of Stitches beingformed some ofwhich are indica-ted in .Figure 4, the irstin order being; the ordinarylock stitch, the shuttle or lock thread being straight. The secondrepreshutter orloelr'thread over the suture.

sents a. look stitchA` the stitches being formed hy passing the needlethrough from opposite sides in alternation und crossing the The third isthe well known chain stitch. The fourth is e crossed cha-in stiteh theneedle being passed through trein opposite sides in alternation.Thef'fth is en overcast Chain stitch. The sixt-h is a, `variety oteliainstitoh the loops being; spread by n peculiar placing ot thestitches with reference-thereto.V

Having thus describedthe invention, what lv eleirn is:

ln a, suture instrument, n. handle from, which the needleis adapted toextend, n cont-einer on the hetndlev for a spool of thread to besupplied to the needle, said container being open at the outer end tofacilitate insertion and removal ot the spool. the oonteiner having ,athread l,guide opening therethrmigjhtl eytlexihleeever restineggon .Saidouter end of the container and adapted to be depressed to function yas ebreketo ,re-

tardrotetion oitthe spool as the thread is paid out? a. retainerfittedto the vcontainer having en opening so that dinger ofthe operatormay engagethesaid Fcover, ,the ,retainerh ving an inwardlyextendingrflange about the. `opening .to4 overlap the niarginal edgeportion of the Cover to clamp it against said end or' the container. Y

In testimony whereof I eHiX my signature'in presence of two witnesses.

MARTIN noNEL-son.

Witnesses: l

A. C. Sror'r. GEORGE W. `WILSON.

